Opinions On Waders

[Last_Cast]

Waders- Yes, no, maybe so???

 

rivers/lakes?

 

thinking of picking a pair up..

 

opinions would be great!
 

 

 

thanks

[Hurricane]

I use mine sometimes just to wade through the shalow part of ponds that I fish.. Worth it..

[Scott F]

Lakes no. Rivers, yes.

[FinCulture]

the thing is that lakes tend to be warm at least in the summer so you really wont need them. you could just throw on a bathing suit. Fishing a hot morning in waders at the lake may cause some discomfort. Rivers on the other hand are generally painfully freezing, making waders a good option if you wanna stay dry and warm. Plus you can slip and fall a lot in rivers so having waders'll keep you dry when/if that happens as well.

[Lund Explorer]

In cold water they're great insulation.

 

In warm water, they should keep the leeches off.

[J Francho]

Breathable, nothing else, that way you separate your waterproof layers from insulation layers. There are times when the air is warm, but the water is still cold, so adjust your base layers accordingly. Make sure you wear a wading belt. Unless your dealing with sand and surf, stocking foot is ideal, then you can a pair of wading boots that fit nicely.

[Steveo-1969]

I only wade in a river (no lakes or ponds) and use water temperature as my guide.  When the water is warm I wear shorts and sneakers. As it gets colder I will switch to jeans/sneakers. Then finally insulated chest waders. And as another member mentioned, a wading belt is a must with chest waders! When you inevitably fall you don't want your waders to fill up with water.

[Last_Cast]

Thanks guys!!!

any good brands??

[Master Bait'r]

I really want a pair of the guide style pants- not the full on chest waders though.  I have no need to be in nips-deep but it would be awesome to get in up to my thighs just to get around without becoming completely waterlogged in a few area rivers.    

[J Francho]

Buy waders that cover a whole joint above what your wading in. Up to the knee, wading pants. Up past the knee, bibs. You should never be ta-tas deep.

Whatever brand you get, get the replacement ins/warranty. You'll use it if it's for two years. For this alone, lots of guys up here get the LL Bean with lifetime replacement.

[jjnosal@msn.com]

LL Bean, forever, returns

[Nashua Nev]

i have 3 types , thin non insulated chest waders warm water,   neoprene insulated colder water , and a set of hip type non insulated.

Mine all come from Cabelas using my Cabelas points so they were free.

They are awesome, just 3 different applications.  pick the one that fits you best.   

and i agree with everything posted before.  cold , warm , leaches , i use them in many places.   ever considered a float tube ?  use the waders with the tube.

I use 2 Cabelas cards and earn 1% of every $ i use them for.   I use it for everything. and pay it in full every month so i have never had to pay interest.  I use them for my business and put over $95,000 on them last yr.

It only earns 1% but it works for me.   I got about $950 worth of free stuff last yr.  

the yr before about the same amount.

will be higher this yr.    as long as you pay it in full every month its worth it , at least to me it is.

 

READ THIS FIRST ...

 

http://www.flyfisherman.com/wading-safety/the-big-swim/

[Preytorien]

Definitely spend the money for a wading belt and I even use a kayaking life jacket as an extra precaution. I fell in last late-November and that shook me up pretty good.

I use the Orvis Silver Sonics and they're the best I've used. It's one of those things that you want to spring for the best your budget allows.

As stated before, in most cases breathables are the way to go. You can always layer UA 2.0 or 3.0 underneath late in the fall to keep warm.

[desmobob]

Definitely spend the money for a wading belt and I even use a kayaking life jacket as an extra precaution. I fell in last late-November and that shook me up pretty good.

I use the Orvis Silver Sonics and they're the best I've used. It's one of those things that you want to spring for the best your budget allows.

As stated before, in most cases breathables are the way to go. You can always layer UA 2.0 or 3.0 underneath late in the fall to keep warm.

 

 

I spend a lot of time in waders.  Breathable chest waders are very versatile.  Like Preytorien, I really like the Orvis Silver Sonics.  They are light, comfortable, and durable.  Over the years, I've used stocking foot and boot foot waders, and I prefer the convenience of boot foot models.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[scaleface]

Ive never wore a pair of waders that didnt leak .

[bigbill]

Please be careful of rivers when using waders we have one that has a dam upstream. They open this dam when ever. You have to watch for rising water levels. Many fly fisherman have drowned here. Just know your river. God bless.

[Rob96]

Please be careful of rivers when using waders we have one that has a dam upstream. They open this dam when ever. You have to watch for rising water levels. Many fly fisherman have drowned here. Just know your river. God bless.

I have already been in the Lehigh when they released. Was in waste deep and never noticed the water rising until it was seeping over the top of my chest waders.

[bigbill]

When the water is low and we are in a low spot the water can rise very quickly over the top of the waders. It's harder to move when the waders are full of water. Plus factor in the current.

Please be safe. Pay attention to this.

[MickD]

Go breathable, not the welded seam type at the foot.  Get the other foot type. I just cannot get me feet into my wading boots without the welded seam foot portion pressing hard against my toes.  Get a wading belt- friend of mine pulled a guy out of a MI trout stream as he was rolling by with his waders full of water.  You don't want to fill them up-it's often fatal.  Mine are about ten years old, Cabelas, and have never leaked.  If you're willing to go with the prices, the big names like Simms and Orvis would surely be top quality.

[WRB]

I bought chest high stocking foot light weight goretex waders from Cabelas over 20 years ago and they are great. I have used these for duck hunting, fishing streams and ponds without any issues. You need a wander belt for safety.

I roll them up and put them in a day pack, very ease to transport without the boots.

Tom

[greentrout]

Be careful with waders. It's not that simple as they look. Can be very dangerous. Soft bottoms and waders not a good match. Sudden drop offs or holes in a pond not a good match. Ever seen a cow stuck in mud in a pond? Happens. Having said that, I've used them and would not have caught fish had I not.

 

 Old School Basser...

[Subaqua Adinterim]

I like the convenience and comfort of hip waders for instances when I don't go too far into the water. I have chest waders for going a little deeper in. The breathable ones with the separate boots are nice, however, not as warm as the ones with the insulated rubber boots attached as part of the waders. I bought a pair of these last year so now I have all three types.

Another non fishing application where these chest waders really came in handy was last winter when I had to use the roof rake to clear off the snow from our ranch house roof. In the past years when I'm on the ground moving around the house, I used to post hole in the high snow and get soaked and cold. Now with the waders on if I sink up to my waist in the snow it's no problem.

[k3bass]

Opinions on waders? They all leak!! ALL of them! Simms, orvis, patagonia, cabelas, Redington, hodgman, caddis, LL bean... yes I've owned all of these over the last 20 years and yes they all leaked after 3 or 4 uses.

If you're getting waders get a pair of stocking foot breathable. None of that neoprene crap or you'll die if it's above 70 degrees. Get a good wading belt and always keep it tight.

Also order a big tube of aqua seal.

[desmobob]

Opinions on waders? They all leak!! ALL of them! Simms, orvis, patagonia, cabelas, Redington, hodgman, caddis, LL bean... yes I've owned all of these over the last 20 years and yes they all leaked after 3 or 4 uses.

 

You must have the world's worst luck with waders, then.  I've been a wading fly fisherman my whole life, including a week or two wading the surf for stripers on Cape Cod for each the last 21 years.  I've worn out three pairs of Orvis Silver Label breathables, and they wore out in the crotch from abrasion after the many miles of walking the beaches, but never leaked except when I put a hook through them.  My newest set of Grey's breathables (an English brand made by Hardy) are still water tight in their third season, as are my Orvis Silver Sonic breathables that I use float tubing.  I probably get five years average out of my duck hunting waders and they take some serious abuse in the buttonbrush marshes and beaver ponds I hunt.

 

I currently have five pairs of waders, the newest being two seasons old, and none of them leak.  If all waders leaked after three or four USES as you say, I don't think people would keep buying them.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[k3bass]

You must have the world's worst luck with waders, then. I've been a wading fly fisherman my whole life, including a week or two wading the surf for stripers on Cape Cod for each the last 21 years. I've worn out three pairs of Orvis Silver Label breathables, and they wore out in the crotch from abrasion after the many miles of walking the beaches, but never leaked except when I put a hook through them. My newest set of Grey's breathables (an English brand made by Hardy) are still water tight in their third season, as are my Orvis Silver Sonic breathables that I use float tubing. I probably get five years average out of my duck hunting waders and they take some serious abuse in the buttonbrush marshes and beaver ponds I hunt.

I currently have five pairs of waders, the newest being two seasons old, and none of them leak. If all waders leaked after three or four USES as you say, I don't think people would keep buying them.

Tight lines,

Bob

Hahaha yeah I'm the only person who has had problems with leaky waders. Give me a break. I'd say it's more like you must have the world's best luck. Just look back in this thread, I'm not even the only person who said that all waders leak.